Sometimes life takes you on a decade-long adventure, only to bring you back to something you loved all along.
If you had told me a few years ago that I'd be returning to photography and starting a new creative chapter, I probably wouldn't have believed you. Not because I didn't love photography, but because I had spent so many years building a career in the entertainment industry.
What you might not know is that photography was actually part of my life long before California. Before moving across the country, I had started building a photography career, capturing high school senior portraits and photographing my brother's hockey team. I loved the creativity behind it, whether I was capturing a senior's personality or trying to catch the perfect action shot on the ice.
But I had another dream I wanted to chase, and that dream took me to California and a family of my own.
A Creative Journey Through California
About 11 years ago, I packed up my life in Illinois and headed west to pursue a career in entertainment. One thing I've learned since then is that careers don't necessarily follow a straight path, especially in the film industry. Opportunities come and go, projects wrap up, and sometimes you find yourself exploring something completely different while waiting for the next opportunity. That's simply part of the adventure, and my career was certainly no exception.
Over the next decade, I found myself working in several different areas, from reality television projects like Dance Moms to helping test new camera technology for Panavision before its release. Along the way, I also explored retail management with Kate Hudson's company and worked in marketing. Each experience gave me something new to learn, different people to work with, and skills that would eventually come together in ways I never expected.
Eventually, my journey led me into animation, where I had the opportunity to work with incredibly talented artists and production teams at DreamWorks Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks. I contributed behind the scenes to projects including The Bad Guys: Breaking In (The Bad Guys: The Series) and GOAT, helping productions come together rather than creating the animation itself. I loved being part of the storytelling process and watching so many creative minds bring an idea to life. Being surrounded by that creativity even inspired me to begin writing stories of my own, which I hope to publish someday.
And while my professional journey was taking all these unexpected turns, California was also becoming home in a much more personal way. It's where I met my husband and where we welcomed our little boy, Andy. What began as a move across the country to pursue a career turned into a decade filled with incredible experiences, friendships, and a family of my own.
Finding My Way Back to Photography
After about 10 years in California, we made the move back to Illinois. Around this chapter of my life, I also found myself navigating an unexpected career change after being laid off from the entertainment industry.
It wasn't easy stepping away from something I had worked so hard to build, especially an industry I genuinely loved. But as I began figuring out what came next, I found myself thinking about photography again.
Becoming a mom had also changed the way I looked at photographs. Suddenly, I had a little boy growing up faster than I could keep up with, and I wanted to capture everything. The smiles, the silly expressions, the little adventures, and all those everyday moments that seem ordinary until you realize how quickly they're gone.
Photography wasn't a completely new direction for me. It was something I'd loved years ago, only now I was returning to it with a different perspective. My experience in animation had taught me so much about storytelling, composition, color, and the importance of little details. Motherhood had taught me just how meaningful a single photograph could become.
And somehow, those two worlds began to come together.
A Different Way to Tell Stories
Something else about me is that I was born deaf and wear a cochlear implant. I've always appreciated that communication goes beyond words, whether it's a facial expression, a gesture, or a simple moment of connection. I think that perspective naturally carries into my photography.
I've always been drawn to genuine expressions and the little moments that tell a story without needing an explanation. A toddler laughing, a family walking together, or a parent sharing a quiet moment with their child. Those are the things I love capturing.
After all, a photograph can tell a story without making a sound.
Coming Full Circle
It's funny to think that after spending a decade working in entertainment, I've found my way back to something I loved before I ever left Illinois. Only this time, I'm bringing years of creative experience, a new appreciation for storytelling, and the perspective of being a mom.
That renewed passion for photography eventually led to the beginning of Greene House Studios. There's a whole other story behind how it came to life, including the inspiration behind the name and what I hope to create with it, but I'll save that for another blog post!
For now, I'm excited to be back behind the camera, meeting new families, exploring beautiful locations around the Chicago suburbs, and continuing to grow as a photographer.
I still love animation, and I haven't given up on my dream of publishing my own stories someday. I don't see this as closing the door on those creative passions. Instead, photography is simply another way to do something I've always loved: tell stories.
Thank you for following along as I begin this next chapter. Whether you've known me for years or you're just discovering Greene House Studios, I'm so glad you're here.
With love,
Meg
Photographer & Founder, Greene House Studios
Let's Capture Your Story
I'd love to help you capture the little moments and big milestones that make your family's story special.
